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Last Day Drama: Who Gets the Best Seeds?
September 11: The final day will decide playoff matchups, Unrivaled adds expansion teams, and AU lands a fan favorite in Kaitlyn Chen.

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Playoff Seeds on the Line on Last Day 😳
The WNBA playoff teams are locked, but the final day of the regular season will decide who plays who in Round 1. Minnesota, Phoenix, and New York are locked as the No. 1, 4, and 5 seeds. Here’s how the rest could shake out:
No. 2 / 3: Atlanta currently holds the No. 2 spot, but if Vegas wins tonight, the Aces jump to No. 2 and Atlanta drops to No. 3.
No. 6 / 7 / 8: Indiana (currently No. 6) and Seattle (currently No. 8) have finished their schedules. Golden State, at No. 7, plays Minnesota tonight. A Valks win pushes them to No. 6 (Indiana drops to 7). A loss pushes Golden State to No. 8 and bumps Seattle to No. 7.
WHY IT MATTERS: The WNBA post-season is short and brutal—just three rounds total—so first round matchups can make or break a championship run.

2. Unrivaled Adds Two New Expansion Teams 🌱
Unrivaled delivered another big announcement this week. The 3-on-3 league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart announced two new franchises this week: the Breeze and the Hive, both debuting next season. (Unrivaled)
WHY IT MATTERS: The expansion brings the league’s team total to 8, and along with the development pool previously announced, increases the league’s player pool by 50%—from 36 to 54 athletes—giving more pros a chance to play stateside during the WNBA offseason. Next season will also feature games across four nights (up from three), eliminating back-to-backs and keeping true to Unrivaled’s player-first approach.

3. Kaitlyn Chen Signs With Athletes Unlimited 💜🖤
Fans will have the chance to watch favorite Kaitlyn Chen during the WNBA off-season. She will join Athletes Unlimited (AU) for their 2026 season in Nashville. (Athletes Unlimited)
WHY IT MATTERS: Chen gets limited minutes for the Valkyries, but her hustle, energy, and selfless play have made her a favorite young player in the Bay Area and around the country. Her jersey is among the top sellers in the WNBA, and her addition could boost AU’s visibility next year. Plus, it gives her valuable playing time against WNBA-level competition as she develops heading into Year 2.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Off-Court Leader: Tina Charles is the 2025 WNBA Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award winner.
Debate Time: ESPN just released their end-of-year award predictions. Do you agree?
Sports & Coffee: This mug gets it—Everyday is a good day to watch women’s sports.*
*This is a recommendation from our team. When you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout will earn a commission. If you do, THANK YOU— this makes it possible for us to keep doing this.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if coaches should rest their stars during the final two days of the regular season. The majority of you (44%) said it depends if a higher seed is still in play, while 36% said yes—rest them.
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